H.B. talks surveillance cameras in downtown

HUNTINGTON BEACH Using surveillance cameras to deter criminal activity in the city's downtown area is up for discussion.

Police Chief Kenneth Small presented a report at Monday's City Council study session that looked at what installing several cameras could mean for aiding police investigations and addressing various safety issues in downtown.

"I think we would all agree that there has been a significant increase of the use of video cameras in the last few years," Small said. "It's a very, very valuable tool for law enforcement."

The study was prompted by City Councilman Joe Carchio, who asked the police chief to study what installing cameras would cost and the potential benefits of a surveillance system.

"As everybody is well aware, every time there's an incident downtown, it costs the city money," he said. "There are numerous lawsuits constantly in the downtown area."

Carchio said he's fielded complaints from business owners in downtown concerned about some crime and other nuisance behavior.

According to Small, it would cost about $150,000 to install cameras to focus on five areas of downtown that need monitoring most.

He recommended putting a camera above the walkway near The Longboard Restaurant and Pub and under the pier, two places infamous for bike thefts.

"Stolen bicycles are a big problem downtown," he said. "It's our belief that it's a group of individuals that are stealing these bicycles. If we had the ability to have video cameras, I would guess my police officers probably know the people."

Placing cameras in the sidewalk area near Baja Sharkeez and Killarney's Pub and Grill was also proposed. Small said the area seems to attract a large number of people and seems a magnet for outdoor brawls.

"That's an area that we have a lot of fights and conflicts that we think would be valuable to capture on video tape," he said.

Walnut Street just east of Main Street is another location primed for video surveillance, Small said.

"During the late evening hours that is absolutely the busiest spot in downtown Huntington Beach," he said "We have more people tripping, falling and hurting themselves."

The last place recommended for video surveillance is near the fountain on Main Street, a location Small said has been the source for numerous complaints.

"Business owners are complaining about folks hanging around creating disturbances and smoking marijuana," he said. "Often time by the time police finds out about it, those people are long gone."

Small suggests installing a system that would record video and also give the department the option to monitor the feed live.

If installed, recordings would be kept for six months, which is the amount of time a person can file a complaint against the city after an incident, such as a trip and fall

No formal proposal to approve the cameras came out of the council's study session.